A National Saab Gathering Sells Out—Weeks in Advance
In an era where most car meets fade into the background, the Dutch national Saab meeting—NatSaab 2025—has sold out weeks ahead of time. Set for June 28 at the Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels in Best, this year’s gathering confirms what Saab enthusiasts already know: you don’t need new models to keep a legacy alive.
With 550 participants officially registered, this third edition of NatSaab is already being hailed as a benchmark for the club’s events. Organized by Saab Club Nederland, which now counts over 2,500 active members, the sold-out status reflects the club’s enduring momentum. While international visitors from Germany and the UK are expected, this is a national meeting—distinct from the IntSaab events that rotate across Europe.
The Saab 9-5 NG Takes the Spotlight
Fifteen years after its debut, the final flagship Saab—the 9-5 NG—still commands respect. This year’s NatSaabDay places the 9-5 NG in the spotlight, showcasing the model’s rare mix of Scandinavian sophistication and cutting-edge engineering. It was Saab’s last attempt to compete head-on with executive sedans, and enthusiasts haven’t forgotten.
Underappreciated at its launch and now virtually impossible to replace, the 9-5 NG has become a cult object, often referred to as the “Saab that could have saved Saab.” Several pristine examples will be on display—including stretched limousines and tuned variants—offering visitors a rare look at what might have been the brand’s rebirth.
For those unfamiliar, learn more about the Saab 9-5 NG here, and why it remains a design benchmark.
A Different Breed of Car Enthusiast
Arnoud Oldenborger, one of the event organizers, describes Saab owners not as collectors—but as custodians. “They’re independent thinkers,” he explains, “people who appreciate what Saab stood for—aeronautical roots, clever engineering, and timeless design.”
This isn’t about horsepower or brand prestige. It’s about details. “Look at the dashboard,” Oldenborger points out. “You’ll find instruments styled like cockpit dials. The Night Panel function dims all but essential gauges for night driving—a detail you won’t find in mainstream cars.”
Every Saab tells a story, and for most attendees, it’s personal. From first cars to multi-decade restoration projects, Saabs have embedded themselves in their owners’ lives far beyond mere transportation.
Simon Padian to Give a Rare Design Talk
What makes NatSaab 2025 truly unmissable is the confirmed presence of Simon Padian, the man behind the design of the 9-5 NG. For longtime Saab fans, this is a historic moment—Padian will deliver a dedicated presentation on the design and development of Saab’s final flagship sedan.
To the best of public knowledge, this will be his first in-depth talk of this kind, offering unique insights into how Saab’s design team fought to create a car that was both bold and faithful to the brand’s roots, even under intense corporate pressure from GM.
His presence adds significant weight and historical context to this year’s meeting, creating a rare opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the designer who shaped the last chapter of Saab’s production history.
Simon Padian, the lead designer behind the Saab 9-5 NG, will be making a rare public appearance at the event in Best. For those in the Saab community, Padian needs no introduction—his design language defined Saab’s final production years. And for the first time ever, he will give a dedicated lecture about the design process behind the 9-5 NG, sharing not only professional insights but personal anecdotes from a time when Saab was trying to break through the constraints of GM ownership and reclaim its independence through design.
From Limousines to Convertibles: A Saab Showcase
As with every NatSaab edition, the range of cars on display will span decades—from rugged daily drivers to carefully restored rarities. Stretch limousines, classic 900s, convertibles, Viggens, and several unique builds are expected to fill the museum grounds.
Workshops, parts swapping, club merchandise, and informal tech discussions will round out the event, reinforcing the community-first nature of the Dutch Saab scene.
But make no mistake: this isn’t just a social picnic. It’s a statement. That 14 years after bankruptcy, Saab still has one of the most devoted followings in Europe.
Not Just Nostalgia—A Movement That Moves
The enthusiasm behind NatSaab isn’t fueled by sentimentality alone. It’s driven by engineering admiration, brand identity, and a shared rejection of automotive conformity. Saab cars—especially the final generation—represent a mindset as much as a machine.
Attendees don’t come just to reminisce. They come to exchange knowledge, maintain parts networks, and ensure that even after factory doors have closed, the Saab engine still turns—both literally and figuratively.
As Pieter Kuipers from the organizing committee put it, “It was never about volume. It was about vision. And the fact that we’re sold out shows that vision still speaks to people today.”
Sold Out, but Not Silent!
Even if you missed the chance to register this year, the message of NatSaab 2025 resonates far beyond the museum gates in Best: Saab is still alive—not in factories, but in every carefully preserved car, every custom restoration, every long-distance drive that starts with turning a Saab key.
And with Simon Padian’s presentation setting the tone, this isn’t just an event—it’s a design debrief, a cultural reflection, and a community milestone rolled into one.
Saab may have stopped building cars, but its drivers haven’t stopped building history.
Update from the Saab frontline
Following the roaring success of NatSaab 2023, this year’s edition on June 28 is already sold out (!), with over 550 participants. Saab 9-5 NG takes center stage, and designer Simon Padian will offer a rare behind-the-scenes design talk.
Update: NatSaab 2025 Was a Hit!
The gathering in Best exceeded expectations with over 650 attendees and 320 Saabs—including more than 50 Saab 9-5 NGs and an unforgettable design talk by Simon Padian.
Read the full event report here
Saab never been death